Use of Feeder Cattle Livestock Risk Protection Insurance in Kansas

➩ LRP–Feeder Cattle use in Kansas increased substantially after 2020, with feeder cattle remaining the most widely insured class. Summary of Business data show marked growth in LRP use following subsidy increases in 2019 and 2020. Among feeder cattle, fed cattle, and swine, LRP–Feeder Cattle accounts for the largest share of participation in Kansas. In 2024, more than 410,000 feeder cattle were covered under LRP, increasing to over 540,000 head in 2025.

➩ LRP–Feeder Cattle participation in Kansas is concentrated in specific cattle classes and weight ranges. The majority of feeder cattle insured under LRP in Kansas are beef steers and heifers with sale weights between 600 and 1,000 pounds. Since its introduction in 2023, the unborn calf option has increased in use but accounted for fewer than 50,000 head in 2025, representing less than 10% of total insured head. Endorsements for dairy and Brahman cattle remain limited.

➩ Most LRP endorsements in Kansas are for relatively small numbers of animals, reflecting flexible contract sizing. Most endorsements cover 70 or fewer head, consistent with the absence of minimum head or weight requirements in LRP contracts. This pattern contrasts with standardized feeder cattle futures contracts, which cover fixed quantities of live weight. Smaller endorsement sizes have become more common over time, although endorsement size does not directly correspond to operation size.

➩ Shorter endorsement lengths account for most insured heads in Kansas. LRP–Feeder Cattle offers endorsement lengths ranging from 13 to 52 weeks. Since 2022, approximately 80% of net head insured in Kansas has been covered under endorsements with lengths of 30 weeks or less, indicating concentration in shorter coverage horizons.

➩ Coverage level selections are concentrated at high coverage rates. Most feeder cattle insured under LRP in Kansas are covered at coverage levels of 98% or higher. As a result, most endorsements have a 35% premium subsidy. Lower coverage levels are used much less frequently over the period examined.

➩ LRP has grown to cover a substantial share of Kansas feeder cattle. The market share of LRP can be approximated using data on the Kansas calf crop, cattle inventories, and cross-state cattle movement. LRP may have covered up to half of all eligible feeder cattle in 2025, up from around 31–38% in 2024.

➩ Kansas accounts for a consistent share of national LRP–Feeder Cattle use. Since 2022, Kansas has represented approximately 10% of all LRP–Feeder Cattle endorsements nationwide and about 8% of total net head insured, based on Summary of Business data.

Recommended Citation Format: Brian K. Coffey, Jennifer Ifft, and Yifei Zhang (2026). Use of Feeder Cattle Livestock Risk Protection Insurance in Kansas. ARPC White Paper 2026–04. Agricultural Risk Policy Center, North Dakota State University. https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.391398